Printing means for labeling machines



y 10, 1955 H. A. NEFZGER 2,707,915

PRINTING MEANS FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed Aug. 15, 1951 Fllc l- INVEN TOR. //4/vs A. M97552 United States Patent 53 PRINTING MEANS FOR ,IwHans A. Nefzger,.-Hackensack, N. J., assignor tohNew T .Jers'yjtMachine- Corporation, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation'of New Jersey r Application :August 15,3195 SrialcNoi. 241,989

1 '6 Claims. (Cl.101""318) -"This invention relates to labeling -machin'es' and rnore e-particularly to labeling machines provided '-'with--' means for imprinting the labels at a predeterminedperiod in 'the operative-- cycle of the machine.

The principal object of the invention is to provide in such azmachine anQimproved printing means' which will -enable the application of the 'printedr'material toany selected part of a label and which' 'will give moreiuniform and better printingresults.

J Other-objects of the-invention, as well as'the novel features'- of construction thereofii will becomev apparent from aperusal of the following descriptionl' when read in onnection i with n the accompanying drawings; in which igal is :afragmentary 'elevationalWiew of a machine embodying theinventiorig' Fig; *2 is a perspective view -='showingthe-mechanism for "adjusting" the"printingmeans relative to the label stack; Fig. 3 is'a sid'e elevationalwiew onan enlarged s'cale of the-printinghead or unityFig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view'; partly in section, and showing the arrangement of the label control parts hen the label carrying means is in'position to pick'up -labe1= from the stack; Fig: 5 is=--aview similar as Fig. 4 and showing-the relation of such parts just after-thelabel carrying-means has withdrawn a label from-the stack; 'and -Fig. =6 is a sectional view takerl along the'lirie 6-6 of Fig. 2. i

The invention-is illustrated'with respect to 'a'well known form of==l=abelingmachineprovidedwith a su'itabl'e hopper 10 in which is-contained-a supply oflabls llinsta'cked arrangement-with the printed faces disposed i upwardly. --='Thelabels ll may be provided-with a'coating (Sf-thermo- -*activatable "adhesive' material 'or'may be plainlabels' to which is -applied aco'ating of-suitableadhesive"matrial n -their' travel-froin the hopper-10 to the articles to which 'they'are to be applied '-Machines of this 'typeus'nally inelevatin'gthe stack of labels= 11 at intervals to thereby periodically restore the "upper end ofthestack toia predetermined level? Thiselevatingmechanism and its"'contro'l means maybe of any conventional"form-"and' arrangementz- In the type-ofmachine illustrated; the means 'whereby the- Y elevating mechanism is controlled includes -a controllingmember 12 carried by a slide- 13, vertically movable in'a stationary guide 14, and connected bymeans of "a --link '='15 with the operating meansf'whereby-"the member 12 is vertically reciprocated in predetermined =-timed' relation *with'the"other-operating"elements of the machine; s'uch operating means inconventionabexisting arrangements including -a suitably shaped cam fonprodncing the vertical reciprocation o f'the member12. In priormachinesof this type, the member; 12-acts as "a' feeler -adap'ted during each downward movement in'the v ertical reciprocation'thereof to engage the'upper endofthe stack ofla'bel's 11: Asthe height of thestack-decreases because of the-progressive removal of labels therefrom; the downward movements ofthe member I 12 "correspondingly, increase in extent; so that finally the feeler'12" brings about an operation" of the elevating niecha'nism"wherebyfithe udealso an-- automatically -c'on'trolled mechanism for 2,707,915 Patented May 10, 1955 i :upper end of-the'stack of labels is periodically r'estored r to a-predetermined= level; Unlikesuch prior constructions' however,-' the member 12 in the instant construc- 1 tion 'does not ac'complish its control by coming-into contact with: the luppermost layer inthe stack, butattains its results byengaging the:top of the printing means, aswill hereinafter appear :more' clear.

1' i -InLthe=:selected-' form of labeling machine shown in the x s drawing'a' the flabels 11 are-' removed in indivi'dualsucmi cession from :the upper end 0f-the*stack by means of a suction' head 16 carried by an open frame or yoke 17 which isflsupported byandverticallymovableon a' carriage 18. The latter is "arranged to bereciprocated' on a stationaryrail19 by suitable:mechanism exemplified by the lev'er 20 and connecting rod'Zl to carry each successive label 11 from the stack to the place of: application atwhich the article to be labeled is supported inflabel receiv-ing powsition in any well kn'own way, as by the 'support 225 In 'the 'operation of such mechanism, the' yoke or open frame 261 lfl and the zsuctionhead 16 are lowered at one terminus of:=the reciprocation of the carriage 18 to cause'thehead to pick-up theterminal or uppermost label 11 in the w stack and to raise-such label therefrom;1the raisedsuction head 16awith the lifted label thereon being then shiftgga e'd 'withithe carriage 18 along the rail19 tothe left; as viewed inwFi'g; 1 of the drawings, and to the aforesaid point of application. At this p'oinn' the 'yoke'17 and the suction-head 16 are lowered to apply thelabelcarried by he-Elatter to-the article on the'isuppo'rt 22i It twill be understood thatthe suction eifective at the activesiirface of the suctiomhead 1'6 iscontrolle'd in any conventional manner irrproper' synchronism with the aforesaid opera- "H tives'tepstoproducethedesired-results.- In its travel i from the'stack to the place of application, the label carried by the suction head 16 is rendered adhesive either by the use bfheat, 'if-Jithas-"a coating of thermoactivat'able. adhesive material, or by the application of acoating ofany uitable adhesive materiallf Duringthe' travel of the u'ctiomhead 16 from'the'stack to--the'place of applica- :-tion-,- means come into-operation to apply printed material I to the next succeeding label in the stack 11.

In -accordance with-the invention;the means for imprinting the labels include .a'sleeve 25' mountedfor slid- -'-'--"#ing ;.reciprocal movement on a vertically-disposedfixed bait-26 Whiehis supported at itsupper-and lowerends by b'rackets'- 27528, secured to the frame 29 of-themahine.= --Pivotallyconnected to 'a' lug' 30 provided on-the ower end of sleeve 25-, isthe-upper end of a'link "31 hosedowerend is "pivotally connected to-the outerfree -end-ofa lever 32. The lever 32-is pivotallysupported at its other en'd by a'brackt33-mounted on-the frame of the machine and is provided intermediate its ends'with a a cam 'rolle'r 34 whichrides on "theperiphery of hereonuction h'ea'd16, so that when the latteroperates to re- (We the terminal'labelfrom the'stack, th'e'sleeve 25 will 'be 'raised on theshaft 26; while when the carrie'r 18 with he suction head-16 isslidably moved toward the left in ig. I "of the drawings; the sleeve" 25 'will be permitted to e'turn by-zgravity to'a' loweredpositionl' A spring 36'eonnected-at'one end to the outer-end of lever'32and at its owerend to a lug" 37 provided on' theframe of the machine,'--ser-ves to facilitatethe downward movement of the sleeve25'and to tend to maintain the'cam rollers 34 in --engagement with the cam 35. 'The lug'37 is provided with a -nurnber' of apertures to which the spring 36 may be variably-connected to vary the tension of the latter. 70 t -Mounted on a bracket 40 provided .on the sleeve 25 is a vertically-disposed rectangularly-shaped guide plate 41having'a horizontally-disposed guide groove 42 and having one end thereof projecting horizontally inwardly of the frame 29. Slidably received in the groove 42 for lengthwise movement relative to the latter, is a guide bar 43 having a longitudinally extending channel 44. The bar 43 is maintained in position in the groove 42 by means of a cover plate 45. Mounted on the lower horizontal shoulder formed by the groove 44 is a rack bar 44' with which is meshed a pinion 39 secured to a stem 46 extending through the cover plate 45. To the outer end of stem 46 is secured a knob or handwheel 47 by which the stem 46 and pinion 39 may be rotated to move rack 44 and consequently bar 43 lengthwise relative to the guide block composed of plates 41 and 45. It will be noted from Fig. 6 of the drawings, that the inner end of the stem 46 projects slightly beyond the pinion 39. The stem 46 is rotatably mounted in a bearing sleeve 38 which is threadedly engaged in the cover plate 45 so that it may be screwed or unscrewed to shift its position lengthwise with relation to such plate. The outer end of sleeve 38 is provided with a handwheel 38 by which the sleeve 38 may be normally rotated to adjust its position relative to plate 45. The inner end of sleeve 38 is adapted to engage with the hub of pinion 39 to force such pinion and the stem 46 inwardly to bring the projecting inner end of the latter into engagement with the inner wall of the groove 42 when the handwheel 38 is turned in one direction. When the handwheel 38 is turned in the opposite direction, the outer end thereof engages with the shank of the knob 47 to shift the pinion 39 and stem 46 outwardly to disengage the inner end of such stem from the inner wall of groove 42. It will thus be seen, that in an adjusted position of the bar 43, the handwheel 38' has been turned to cause the inner end of stem 46 to bear against the inner wall of groove 42, thus locking bar 43 in its adjusted position. When it is desired to adjust the position of bar 43 relative to the guide plate 41, the handwheel 38 is turned to withdraw the stem 46 from engagement with such bar and the bar is moved lengthwise in the guide block composed of plates 41 and 45 by turning the knob 47. When the proper adjustment of the bar 43 with relation to such guide block has been made, the handwheel 38' is again turned to fix it in such position by means of the stem 46.

The inner projecting end of bar 43 is provided with a vertically arranged guide plate 48 which is disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of bar 43 and like plate 41, is provided with a horizontal guide groove. Slidably mounted in the groove of plate 48 is a bar 49 having a longitudinally extending channel 50. Secured to the plate 48 is a cover plate 51; the two plates constituting a guide block for the bar 49. The bar 49 is adjustably moved and secured in an adjusted position relative to the guide block by means of mechanism similar in construction to that described with relation to bar 43 and illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, it being believed sufficient in view of the description of the former to indicate the knob for shifting bar 49 by the numeral 52 and to indicate the handwheel for locking the bar 49 in an adjusted position by the numeral 53.

it will be noted that by reason of the above described method of mounting bars 43 and 49 on sleeve 25, one end of bar 49 will extend over the stack of labels 11. Mounted on such end of bar 49 is a block 54, which overlies the label stack 11 and whose position with relation to the terminal label in such stack may be varied by adjustment of the bars 43 and 49 in the manner previously described. Removably connected in any suitable fashion to the block 54 are a plurality of depending bars 55 provided at their lower ends with type or other equivalent means capable of imprinting the desired printed matter, such as code marks or numerals, on the labels 11. Positioned below the bars 55 is a pressure plate 56 provided with apertures through which the bars 55 may extend during the printing operation (note Fig. 3 of the drawings). The plate '56 is supported on the block 54 by a plurality of vertical rods 57 which are connected at their lower ends to such plate and extend up through passageways in the block 54; the upper ends of such ends of such rods being provided with an enlargement such as the lock nuts 58 which engage the shoulders formed by the recesses 54 in which they are located to limit movement of such rods relative to the block in a downward direction. Mounted on the rods 57 between the block 54 and pressure plate 56 are springs 59 which normally maintain the plate 56 in an advanced position relative to the block 54, with the nuts 58 in engagement with the shoulders or inner walls of recesses 54, and which yieldingly resist movement of the plate 56 toward the block 54.

The inking pad 60 for the type on the bars is mounted on the upper surface of the suction head 16. As is shown more clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the pad is mounted in a recess bounded by any suitable stop means, such as the walls 61 provided on the head 16, the upper surface of the inking pad being located below the upper edges of such stop means or walls 61. Thus, when the parts are in position to ink the type on bars 55, the plate 56 of the printing unit will be seated on the upper edges of the walls 61 and the bars 55 will be extended through such plate so that the type thereon will be in engagement with the inking pad 60, as is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description of the parts, it will be understood that in the operation of the machine, the printing unit is reciprocated in a vertical direction during the horizontal movements of the suction device 16, while the control member 12 feels the upper surface of the printing unit in its control of the stack of labels. Let it be assumed that the parts are at that period in the operative cycle of the machine just subsequent to the application of a label to an article, with the suction head 16 being raised on the carriage 18 to the position at which it will be returned to the stack of labels 11. As shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the block 54 at this time occupies a lowered position with the plate 56 pressing on the stack of labels 11 and the bars 55 advanced through such plate so as to imprint the uppermost label in the stack. The member 12 will also be in a lowered position in contact with the top surface of the bar 49 which is fiush with the top surface of the block 54.

When the yoke 17 and suction head 16 have been raised to the proper point on the carriage 18, the latter is shifted lengthwise of the rail 19 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. l, to bring the suction head over the stack of labels 11. In proper timing with this operation, the slide 13 is shifted upwardly in the guide 14 to raise the member 12 to a point at a distance above the stack of labels and such that when the suction head 16 is moved over the stack 11, such member will be removed from its path (note Figs. 4 and 5). The block 54 is also lifted by the sleeve 25 through its associated connecting bars and guide blocks to a raised position at which it will enter into the yoke 17 when the latter arrives over the stack 11, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. During this upward movement of the block 54, the movement of the plate 56 thereon will be retarded by the springs 59, while the bars 55 are withdrawn therefrom and when the nuts 58 again engage the inner walls of the recesses 54 in the block 54, such block with the plate 56 will be raised as a unit.

When the suction head 16 is positioned over the stack 11, the yoke 17 is moved downwardly to bring such head into contact with the top of the stack of labels 11, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. It will be noted that at this point in the cycle of operation, the inking pad 60 is directly below and in registry with the plate 56 and type bars 55 carried by the block or head 54. In properly timed relation, suction is made effective in the suction head 16, so that when the latter with yoke 17 is raised from the position shown in Fig. 4, the terminal or uppermost label in the stack is removed by such head 16. This upward movement of the suction head 16 is continued until the plate 56 seats on is given a slight downwardrmovement on the, carriage 1 8 to remove the. pad 60 and: walls 61 away from the .type. bars 55 and the plate, 56,. the springs 59.,during such movement of the yoke moving; the. plate 56 relative tothe type bars 55 until the latter-havebeen withdrawn "from a projecting position relative to, such..plate. The carriage; 18 is. then shifted alongthe rail 19 to.. the .left,

as viewed in-Fig. 'l of the drawings, during which. travel,

the. label isrendered adhesive either bythe application of heat, if it is coated with therrno-activatable adhesive ,material or bythe application. thereto of. asuitable ad- ,hesive if it is a plain label. .-.When the carriage. 18 ,,r eaches the end of its travel to the; left, the .yoke 17 is moveddownwardly on the carriage 1,8 tolcause. the. suctionhead16 to apply the label carried thereby to. the

:article mounted, on the support 22 at. the label ,application station. operations, the suction in the..head 16 is,,released and ,the;yoke 17 is 'moved upwardlyrelative to,. the. carriage 18,. leaving. the label inadhesive connection .with the article. .Theapplication of theapplied, label .tothe article is ,tl1en completed in any c ustomary.,manner .and .the labeled article is replaced at the. place ofapplication by anotherarticle to be labeled.

At; the, proper moment in this cycle of ,Duringthe period in which thelabel. carried by the in the stack 11. In the downwardtmovement of the printing unit, the plate 56 will first engage the uppermost labeL, -As the unitt continues itsdownward movement the platen56,will rcompressnthe stack under the increased pressure"of the compressing springs 59 and i cause. the latter tobecome ;a solidsbase for=v the-printing operation. .During this. pressing action of theplate 56, the-head 54 continues to move .mdownwardly, advancing the. typebars 5.5. throughthenper-forations' of plate 56 wagainst; the pressure of. springs 59 to bring the: type on ..such. bars :into contact .witlntheluppermostelabel in. the

stack. As a result of the solidified condition of the stack, the printing operation will take place under very advantageous conditions and will provide a cleaner and clearer result than is possible by imprinting on a stack not so solidified. By suitably adjusting the spring 36 to the bracket 37, the imprint made by the type may be controlled so as to be either light or heavy or in any intermediate shade. When adjusting this connection of spring 36, the force exerted by the springs 59 will of course, have to be taken into account. By reason of the two possible adjustments of the head 54 on the sleeve 25 with relation to the stack of labels, the particular portion of the label to be printed, can be determined with great exactness, which is of extreme importance in the printing of many labels where a relatively small space is provided for the application of code marks or other identifying indications. The range of movement of the sleeve 25 and consequently the printing unit is suflicient to allow for a predetermined depletion of the label stack without effecting the printing operation. in predetermined timing with the printing operation, the member 12 is moved downwardly to bring it into contact with the top surface of the bar 49 of the printing unit at the moment that the type bars 55 of the latter are applying the printed matter to the uppermost label in the stack 11. The member 12 in cooperation with the printing unit thus controls the operation of the stack elevatingmechanism. 'Itwill beobservedthatthefeeler El 12 is a, flat,,plate of,Isuch,,dimensioris;that nqjnatter to what position, the head 54.has been adjusted relative to theuppermost label in'the stack, such feeler will en- ,,;gage ,theupper surface of the bar 49 in, its downward testing movement. This constructionalsohasthe advantage ,n that a stack of labels vmay beinde'jxed even ,thongh. the labels in such-stack havera smaller area than the pressureplate 56 of the printing unit. Ihus, a stack of very small labelsmay beconsolidated for proper printing and simultaneously indexed, which wouldjotherwise beimpossible of accomplishment with known mechanisms.

t While I, have described andflillustrated a preferred form of my invention, it jwill be .understoodtbythose skilled in the art that various changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

.I claim:

1. In a-labeling machine of the typerwhich comprises a.v support for a ,stack ofllabels and constructed and l arranged to be periodically actuated to restore theterminal label of the stack to a predeterminedposition 'and transfer means including a suction device for. successively removing labels from such stack, the combination .with said support and transferrmeans of a printing 'unit having a surfacespa'ced from the terminall'abel in the stack, means. for supporting said-printing unit for re- I ciprocal movement toward and-away from the terminal label of the stack, means fortreciprocating said supporting means to cause saidprintingaunit topr'oducean imprint on the terminal label of the. stack and to' withdraw ,said printing unit prior to the removal" offsuch ,,terminal label by.sai d transfer means, a feelerinfember separate .fromsaid printing unit 'andjintefmittently engageable with said printingunitsurface to 'c ntrol.-the

actuation of said stack supportand. reciprocatingmeans for bringing said feeler.member into engagemenflwith such surface every time. andwhile said printing unit is producing an imprint on thetermin'al label of the stack.

2. In a labeling machine of the type. which comprises .asupport for a stack of'labelsand constructedjand arranged to be periodically actuated to restore the terminal I 'label of .the stack to a predetermined position and,.transfer means.including a suction devicefor, successively removing labels from such stack, the-combinationQWith said support and transfer means of unitary means for periodically producing an, imprint on the .terminal label "of the stack and having a surface spaced from such terminal label during the production of such imprint, unitary means for periodically engaging such surface of said imprinting means to test the position of said imprinting means during the printing operations of the latter to control the actuation of said stack support, and means for reciprocating said imprinting means to produce an imprint on a terminal label and for reciprocating said testing means to engage said imprinting means each time the latter is producing an imprint, said reciprocating means being constructed and arranged to move said testing means into engagement with such surface. of said imprinting means at the moment that the latter is producing an imprint on the terminal label of the stack.

3. In a labeling machine of the type which comprises a support for a stack of labels and constructed and arranged to be periodically actuated to restore the terminal label of the stack to a predetermined position and transfer means including a suction device for successively removing labels from such stack, the combination with said support and transfer means of unitary means for periodically producing an imprint on the'terminal label of the stack and having a surface spaced from such terminal label during the production of such imprint, means operable to selectively adjust the printing position of said imprinting means relative to the terminal label of the stack and consequently to shift the position of such surface relative to such terminal label, unitary means movable along a predetermined path for periodically engaging such surface of said imprinting means to test the position of said imprinting means during the printing operations of the latter to control the actuation of said stack support, said testing means comprising a member having a surface engageable with the surface of said imprinting means and of such dimensions that whichever printing position said imprinting means has been adjusted, such surface will engage with the surface of said imprinting means during a printing operation, and means for reciprocating said imprinting means to produce an imprint on a terminal label and for reciprocating said testing means to engage said imprinting means each time the latter is producing an imprint, said reciprocating means being constructed and arranged to move said testing means into engagement with such surface of said imprinting means at the moment that the latter is producing an imprint on the terminal label of the stack.

4. In a labeling machine of the type which comprises a support for a stack 01 labels and constructed and arranged to be periodically actuated to restore the terminal label of the stack to a predetermined position, and transfer means including a suction device for successively removing labels from such stack, the combination with said support and transfer means of a printing unit having a surface spaced from the terminal label in the stack, means for supporting said printing unit for reciprocal movement toward and away from the terminal label of the stack, means for reciprocating said supporting means to cause said printing unit to produce an imprint on the terminal label of the stack and to withdraw said printing unit prior to the removal of such terminal label by said transfer means, said printing unit including a yieldable plate and the type on said type carrier are in engagement with the terminal label of the consolidated stack.

5. In a labeling machine of the type which comprises a support for a stack of labels and constructed and arranged to be periodically actuated to restore the terminal label of the stack to a predetermined position, and transfer means including a suction device for successively removing labels from such stack, the combination with said support and transfer means of means for periodically consolidating the stack by applying a positive pressure to the terminal label within a predetermined area, means for producing an imprint on the terminal label while such stack is so consolidated and within the area of such consolidation, unitary means for periodically engaging a surface of said imprinting means during the printing operations of the latter to control the actuation of said stack support, and means for reciprocating said unitary means to engage said imprinting means each time the latter is producing an imprint and while said consolidating means is exerting a consolidating pressure on the stack.

6. in a labeling machine of the type which comprises a support for a stack of labels and constructed and arranged to be periodically actuated to restore the terminal label of the stack to a predetermined position, and transfer means including a suction device for successively removing labels from such stack, the combination with said support and transfer means of means for periodically and simultaneously consolidating the stack by applying a positive pressure to the terminal label within a predetermined area and producing an imprint on the terminal label while such stack is so consolidated and within the area of such consolidation, unitary means for periodically engaging a surface of said consolidating and imprinting means during the stack consolidating and printing operations of the latter to control the actuation of said stack support, and means for reciprocating said unitary means to engage said consolidating and imprinting means each time the latter is exerting a consolidating pressure on the stack and at the moment said consolidating and imprinting means is producing an im print on the terminal label.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,235,501 Peters et a1 July 31, 1917 1,681,882 Silverman Aug. 21, 1928 2,087,130 Strong et al July 13, 1937 2,215,085 Schnitchen Sept. 17, 1940 2,348,799 Freeman et a1 May 16, 1944 2,507,658 Worth May 16, 1950 

